Signs and Symptoms of Morphine Addiction

There are many signs and symptoms of morphine abuse and addiction. Morphine side effects include but are not limited to the following:

• Anxiety
• Involuntary eye movement
• Blurred or double vision
• Chills
• Depressed or irritable mood
• Itching
• Cramps
• Dizziness
• Rash
• Diarrhea
• Drowsiness
• Rigid muscles
• Inability to urinate
• Exaggerated sense of well-being
• Seizure
• Light-headedness
• Dry mouth
• Nausea
• Facial flushing
• Sedation
• Tremor
• Fainting
• Sweating
• Uncoordinated muscle movements
• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Hallucinations
• Agitation
• Headache
• Unexplained allergic reactions
• Apprehension
• Memory loss

Clearly there are many harmful and dangerous side effects that counter-balance the euphoria caused by this drug. There is no standard overdose amount, but it is lethal. If you are addicted or recognize some of these symptoms in a friend or loved one, take action now.

Why Morphine Is So Addictive

Morphine taps into the brain’s reward system, which produces the euphoria typically associated with the drug. However, morphine lingers in the brain, blocking the neuro-receptor sites that absorb the drug. Therefore, the blockages require higher doses of the drug to produce the same level of high after only one use. For this reason, people can be addicted to morphine after their first use of the drug.

Symptoms of morphine overdose include the following:

• Cold clammy skin
• Flaccid muscles
• Lowered blood pressure
• “Pinpoint” or dilated pupils
• Sleepiness
• Stupor
• Coma
• Slowed breathing
• Difficulty breathing
• Slow pulse rate
• Bluish colored fingernails and lips
• Spasms of the stomach
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Palpitations
• Death

If you recognize several of these symptoms in a friend or loved one, or if you experience these symptoms yourself, get to an ER immediately.

Morphine Addiction Help

Dual diagnosis programs have the most success in completely eradicating addiction. These programs focus on underlying mental disorders that may accompany addiction. After a thorough detox of the drug, dual-diagnosis programs provide counseling or therapy options that help prevent future relapses and uses. Talk, group, and behavioral therapy, as well as participation in community activities are all encouraged or employed in these programs. Support and encouragement from friends or family members can also yield significant assistance in breaking addiction. Drug counselors or specialists can also prescribe less potent drugs to help taper patients from addiction.
There are several options that can help. Our helpline is operated 24 hours a day and our phone number is toll-free. Please call us today to begin reclaiming life. It is not too late to find hope.

A patient can use short-acting formula morphine on an “as needed” basis for the pain or an extended-release formula when using morphine for around-the-clock patients who are constantly in pain. Often times, your doctor will not prescribe morphine unless your body has already built up a tolerance to other opioid medications because morphine is a highly dependent drug.

Morphine can be habit forming, so it is important to only take what is prescribed to you by your doctor, so that your body does not build up a tolerance quickly. It is also important to keep it in a safe place away from children and those who have had addiction problems. Morphine is popular for teenagers who want to do drugs because it is easily accessible in their parents’ medicine cabinets. Morphine should be stopped gradually in order to not experience withdrawal symptoms.

Morphine Side Effects

Users may experience certain side effects when using morphine. These effects are increased when morphine is abused.

• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness
• Drowsiness
• Upset stomach
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Diarrhea

Forms of Morphine

Morphine can be found under generic and brand name products including MS-Contin®, Oramorph SR®, MSIR®, Roxanol®, Kadian®, and RMS®. Morphine is used through injection for preoperative sedation, rather than using an anesthesia. Traditionally, morphine was almost exclusively used by injection. Today, however, morphine is taken in a variety of different forms. Some of these forms include: oral solutions, immediate and sustained-release tablets and capsules, injectable preparations and suppositories.

Morphine Oral Solutions

Oral solutions come in the form of a liquid. This form is commonly used on hospice patients because it is easier to take when people have a hard time swallowing pills. It is often concentrated so that a greater dose can be given with less liquid. Many users prefer this kind because it is easy to take and begins working within 15 minutes and only lasts for around four hours. However, liquid morphine has a very bitter taste.

Morphine Tablets and Capsules

Morphine tablets and capsules come in extended release as well as rapid release. It is important to take the tablets and capsules as they are given. Do not break, crush or chew the extended release tablets. They have been designed specifically to give the patient the correct amount of morphine over a period of time. Breaking, crushing or chewing the tablets will release too much morphine into the bloodstream at one time.

However, rapid release tablets can be crushed and mixed into food such as applesauce or pudding. This is a popular thing to do when abusing morphine because it creates a strong high.

Morphine Injections

Injections are not as common with morphine because the other methods are quite effective. Injections are typically used for surgery preparations when using morphine rather than an anesthesia.

Morphine Suppositories

Suppositories are also not used as often. They are typically used when a patient needs a longer lasting dose, but have difficulty swallowing. When given in the form of a suppository, it should only be inserted into the rectum.

Morphine Interactions

Most prescribed medications have contraindications; meaning it is recommended that you do not use the prescribed drug if you have one or more of a list of other characteristics or drug usage. In some cases, it is recommended that you absolutely do not take the prescribed medication. In other cases, caution in use is recommended.

For morphine, it is recommended that you avoid using it if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. MAO inhibitors are the family of medications used primarily for treating depression and Parkinson’s disease. The two-week period suggests that the chemicals in the MAO inhibitor will have cleared your body after two weeks. Exactly what period of time your body processes a medication completely out of your system varies per person, so just using a basic timeframe as a point of reference could be insufficient.

It is also recommended that you do not take morphine with other narcotic pain medications, sedatives, tranquilizers, muscle relaxers or other medicines that can make you sleepy or slow your breathing.

There are other prescribed medications that may or may not interact with your use of morphine including most medications prescribed for the treatment of pain.

With morphine being such an effective treatment for severe pain, physicians and scientists continue to evaluate the benefit/risk ratio of prescribing morphine. Ongoing research to further understand how morphine works may provide insights on how to better manage its addictive properties. Without such information, a person must commit to managing their morphine use and taking action should they feel that the use is becoming abuse.

Morphine Help

If you or a loved one is addicted to morphine, it is important to seek help. Morphine is a highly dependent drug. Once addicted, the effects are devastating. Many lose their jobs, dreams and ambitions. But, there is hope. If you are interested in receiving information on morphine detox or rehab, please call our toll free number at (877) 259-5633.

Morphine is in a group of drugs called narcotic pain relievers. It is a potent analgesic drug and the primary active agent is opium. It is used to treat moderate to severe pain. Morphine works by dulling the pain perception center in the brain.

A patient can use short-acting formula morphine on an “as needed” basis for the pain or an extended-release formula when using morphine for around-the-clock patients who are constantly in pain. Often times, your doctor will not prescribe morphine unless your body has already built up a tolerance to other opioid medications because morphine is highly dependent drug.

Morphine can be extremely habit forming. It is important to only take what is prescribed to you by your doctor so that your body does not build up a tolerance quickly. It is also important to keep it in a safe place away from children and those who have had addiction problems. Morphine is popular for teenagers who want to do drugs because it is easily accessible in their parents’ medicine cabinets. Morphine should be stopped gradually in order to not experience withdrawal symptoms.

Morphine Dependency

Similar to heroin, morphine is a highly dependent drug. Often, morphine addictions happen accidentally by those who have been prescribed morphine by their doctors. When used for a prolonged amount of time, the body becomes used to the amount of drugs administered. When this happens, the user has to take more to receive the initial effects. This is a dangerous thing to do because when a user stops taking the medication, withdrawal symptoms will occur.

When taking this drug, the patient needs to do exactly as the doctor says to stay clear of addiction. It is important to talk to your doctor before coming off of morphine to ensure that withdrawal symptoms do not occur.

Morphine Withdrawal

Like many other drugs, the effects of morphine withdrawal are difficult to go through by yourself. It is important to consult a professional in order to stay safe.

Do not stop taking morphine all at once; the symptoms will greatly lessen if you reduce your intake gradually. Since morphine is such a powerful analgesic, withdrawal symptoms can begin as soon as four to six hours after the last dose. Some of the earlier effects are:

• Insomnia
• Watery eyes
• Diarrhea
• Sweating
• Cravings
• Dysphoria

As the time between doses increases, the symptoms worsen:

• Irritability
• Severe headaches
• Body aches
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stomach pains
• Tremors
• Increased cravings

Morphine Treatment

The safest way to detox from morphine is to go to a rehab facility and be in the care of professionals who deal with addictions. They will be able to successfully step a user through the detox process with lessened withdrawal effects. It is especially important for those addicted to morphine to go to a facility for the detox process since morphine is an opiate drug.

Morphine is mentally and physically addictive. Without executing the process properly, the user is at a high rate of relapse. However, under the careful care of a professional staff, the user is equipped with strategies to overcome the addiction. The treatment program can begin once the detox process is completed.

For many users, the addiction goes beyond the physical aspect. It mentally affects the users as well. If you became addicted because morphine really was prescribed to you, it is important to go to a specialized treatment or therapy to learn other ways to take care of your painful symptoms without becoming addicted to your prescribed medication.

Morphine Help

If you or a loved one is addicted to morphine, it is important to seek help. Morphine is a highly dependent drug. Once addicted, the effects are devastating. Many lose their jobs, dreams and ambitions. But, there is hope. If you are interested in receiving information on morphine detox or rehab, please call our toll free number at (877) 259-5633.

A patient can use short-acting formula morphine on an “as needed” basis for the pain or an extended-release formula when using morphine for around-the-clock patients who are constantly in pain. Often times, your doctor will not prescribe morphine unless your body has already built up a tolerance to other opioid medications because morphine is highly dependent drug.

Morphine can be habit forming. It is important to only take what is prescribed to you by your doctor so that your body does not build up a tolerance quickly. It is also important to keep it in a safe place away from children and those who have had addiction problems. Morphine is popular for teenagers who want to do drugs because it is easily accessible in their parents’ medicine cabinets. Morphine should be stopped gradually in order to not experience withdrawal symptoms.

Morphine Dependency

Similar to heroin, morphine is a highly dependent drug. Often, morphine addictions happen accidentally by those who have been prescribed morphine by their doctors. When used for a prolonged amount of time, the body becomes used to the amount of drugs administered. When this happens, the user has to take more to receive the initial effects. This is a dangerous thing to do because when a user stops taking the medication, withdrawal symptoms will occur.

When taking this drug, the patient needs to do exactly as the doctor says to stay clear of addiction. It is important to talk to your doctor before coming off of morphine to ensure that withdrawal symptoms do not occur.

Morphine Withdrawal

Like many other drugs, the effects of morphine withdrawal are difficult to go through by yourself. It is important to consult a professional in order to stay safe. Do not stop taking morphine all at once; the symptoms will greatly lessen if you reduce your intake gradually. Since Morphine is such a powerful analgesic, withdrawal symptoms can begin as soon as four to six hours after the last dose. Some of the earlier effects are:

• Insomnia
• Watery eyes
• Diarrhea
• Sweating
• Cravings
• Dysphoria

As the time between doses increases, the symptoms worsen:

• Irritability
• Severe headaches
• Body aches
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stomach pains
• Tremors
• Increased cravings

Morphine Treatment

The safest way to detox from morphine is to go to a rehab facility and be in the care of professionals who deal with addictions. Keep in mind that a person addicted to morphine typically has a physical dependency, a psychological dependency, and the need to manage a situation, such as extreme pain without the benefits of morphine. All of these factors contribute to the need for supervision under a trained professional.

A person experiencing morphine withdrawal is at a very vulnerable state, physically and emotionally. A rehabilitation professional can ensure that during detox, a person is protected against:

• Overdose – Because it is easy to build up a tolerance to morphine, abusers are not in a position to make an informed decision about the amount of morphine to take or how to reduce that amount carefully.
• Complications – There are many potential physical withdrawal symptoms that need to be managed properly to ensure not only that a person can be successful through the detox process but also that they don’t experience additional residual complications.

Relapse – While a person may be successful in the physical component of detox, that is only part of the total solution. An addict typically starts using morphine for pain management, so that person still needs to manage that pain in a manner other than using morphine. In addition to pain management, many addicts have developed lifestyle patterns or behaviors that contribute to abuse. A valuable service that many rehabilitation facilities offer is the additional support that allows a person to be successful in maintaining their drug-free life when they return home.

The first 36 to 72 hours are the most difficult for a person going through morphine withdrawal symptoms and detox professionals will be able to successfully step a user through the detox process with lessened withdrawal effects. Besides getting the most support possible to get a person through this difficult time, research has proven that without treatment, morphine addiction withdrawal may extend for as many as 5 to 7 days, and continued cravings for morphine may persist for months.

After the detox process is completed, there are several addiction treatment programs. If you became addicted because morphine really was prescribed to you, it is important to go to a specialized treatment or therapy to learn other ways to take care of your painful symptoms without becoming addicted to your prescribed medication.

Morphine Help

If you or a loved one is addicted to morphine, it is important to seek help. Morphine is a highly dependent drug. Once addicted, the effects are devastating. Many lose their jobs, dreams, and ambitions. But, there is hope. If you are interested in receiving information on morphine detox or rehab, please call our toll free number at (877) 259-5633.